I'm an trying to model an arch using Fourier series. since I don't have the exact function of the arch, I want to take a sequence of points along the arch at fixed intervals and find the Fourier series using those points. However, I'm having difficulty understanding the difference between a Discrete Time Fourier Series (DTFS) and Discrete Fourier Transform (DFT). Some sources say that the DFT is used to find the complex Fourier Coefficients $C_k$ in the exponential Fourier series $$f(x) = \sum_{k=-\infty}^\infty C_k e^{i2\pi kx\over T}$$
wouldn't that mean that DTFS and DFT are the same thing?
On the other hand, also I dont understand how I can model my arch using a complex exponential series, since the series contains the imaginary number $i$, yet the original function was real. I understand how the formula above is derived from the original trigonometric series using Euler's identites, but I can't grasp how the exponential series is converted back to the trigonometric series. Do the imaginary terms cancel out? if so how/why does that happen?
context: I'm a highschool student so there are some big gaps in mathematical abilities. I would appreciate it if someone could answer my 2 questions in a way that does not include rigorous mathematical proof or advanced mathematical frameworks and tools. Thanks in advance!
Yes indeed, the imaginary terms cancel out if $f$ is real.
For example, look that the formula $$ \cos(x) = \frac{e^{ix}+e^{-ix}}{2}. $$ If you come back to the definition of the exponential as a series, that is $e^x = \sum_{n=0}^\infty \frac{x^n}{n!}$, then you get $$ \cos(x) = \frac{1}{2} \sum_{n=0}^\infty \frac{(ix)^n+(-ix)^n}{n!} \\ = \frac{1}{2} \sum_{n=0}^\infty \frac{(i^n+(-i)^n)\,x^n}{n!} $$ and since $i^n+(-i)^n = (-1)^{n/2}$ if $n$ is even (because $i^2=-1$, so $i^{2k} = (-1)^k$) while $i^n+(-i)^n = 0$ if $n$ is odd (because $(-i)^{2k+1} = (-1)^{2k+1}i^{2k} = -i^{2k}$), so the above sum becomes a sum of positive terms.